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Re. German verb weinen.
If I recall, the discussion was about the meaning of Weiner, and someone mentioned "wein." Wein means wine (not whine.) So conceivably the name Weiner could mean something related to wine, but who knows.
But speaking of Weiner, I thought of a surefire way out for Anthony Weiner, switch parties. The Republicans would say the matter is between Weiner and his wife, and the Dems would be too spineless to take on the GOP. And while I was looking up the GOP response when the shoe was on the other foot, I found the following that is hilarious in retrospect:
Ensign calls for Stevens to resignFrom MSNBC's Adam Verdugo
Sen. John Ensign, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the man in charge of keeping the Democrats from reaching a 60-seat majority, told Norah O'Donnell on MSNBC today that Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) should step down.
"Sen. Stevens should do the right thing and resign."
Sen. Ensign joins a list of high profile senate Republicans to call for Stevens' resignation. "The statesman-like thing for Sen. Stevens would be to resign," he continued. "I'd like to see a special election in the state of Alaska, so they can actually choose between a Republican and Democrat."
"This was unfortunate, obviously, timing." http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2008/10/29/4435985-ensign-calls-for-stevens-to-resign
We should demand an international minimum wage as the price of our continued presence in all these trade agreements. A sufficiently high IMW would eliminate this wage advantage and force corporations to move production back to the U.S.
Also, as Ian Fletcher points out in his book, Free Trade Doesn't Work, a uniform tariff across all products brought into the country would tend to help restore productive jobs. I agree with you; we need to get manufacturing (and other wealth-producing) jobs back into this country to fix the economy.
Bubble-Up Economics is the theory that money injected at the bottom of the economic ladder bubbles up and makes the rich richer. Since we've tried Trickle On economics for about three decades, my position is we should try Bubble-Up Economics for three decades now and then compare the results.
According to my calculations, increasing the minimum wage is approximately four times as beneficial for retirement as moving retirement savings from Social Security to private funds. And this doesn't even take into account the excessive fees changed in the private sector. It's just the matter that every additional dollar earned at the minimum wage is subject to Social Security tax.
This is one reason why unrestricted globalization is costing us so much money. The 1.4 million people out of work right now due to bad trade policies passed by Congress is costing us on the order of over $2 billion a year in lost income to Social Security. That is money that would not just be going to shore up the Social Security fund, but also money that would be automatically loaned to the Federal Government (because Social Security is running at a surplus and would not use the money for current payments to retirees), reducing the level of borrowing on the open market.
This is why we should all be on Capitol Hill demanding an international minimum wage. We need to support the domestic minimum wage and eventually raise it to a living wage. The only way to do that is to make it unfeasible economically to go overseas for cheaper wages.
Failure to support a minimum wage means that you find it acceptable to exploit workers. Any politician that doesn't treat the minimum wage with respect doesn't treat humans with respect.
Republicans don't understand basic economics the same way they don't understand Democracy,the Constitution, Science, Climate Change, Human Rights, and History. The statement that fossils are real, the earth is round, and trickle down is a lie used to justify greed, is like daybreak to a vampire for the right wing.
They choose to live in the fairy tale world of "REAGAN" voodoo economics. It's a dark world where deregulation and free market economics allow a greedy few to "BUSHWACK" the rest of us with economic bubbles.
The desperation, panic,and fright, jobless folks with kids, mortgages,car loans, credit card debt,etc. face means nothing to these sociopaths.
This form of economic terrorism facilitates the trickle up concentration of wealth they and their corp. masters worship, while at the same time maintaining the working class depression we are in.
This is where guys like McConnell and Ryan along with the rest of the economic terrorists have figured out that by continuing the Bush policy of economic misery and hardship they might be able to get the Whitehouse back.
These scoundrels know they can use the republican mass media to spin the blame onto Obama and the Democrats. Come election time Karl Rove will pull his shhhhht and most average voters will buy into the death-panel like lies. CONTROL OF THE MESSAGE IS EVERYTHING! We have lost our democracy due to the monopolization of the media which has indirectly through propaganda created a economic system that has destroyed the middle class!
Sorry, but a minimum wage hike alone won't really do much to improve ourr economy. The problem, as I see it, is that we have sent most of our production jobs to other countrys, like China. Until we can think of a way to get manufacturing jobs back in the USA, then all we are doing by raising the min. wage is inflating our money supply. One way might be to impose import duties on manufactured good entering the country, in order to make our own domestic supplies of goods more economically competitive. Another way would be to charge high export duties on the things we do produce, like food.. If we charged the same per volume of wheat as the OPEC does for oil, then we'd do relaly well, I think. 44 gallons/barrel, 8 gallons per bushel ------> 44/8 bushels per barrel, or 5.5 bushels per barrel. so If we sold wheat overseas at the rate of $20/bushel, that would cover oil at $110 per barrel.
You gotta love these supposed Americans on this blog who Hate their Government! Who see a government conspiracy probably even in a port-a-potty! Who want to start a revolution and maybe kill a couple million folk! Who despise our existing laws!
These people live in a bubble - a very big bubble! And all they hear and listen to is their own convoluted babble!
If you don't like it here move to China! I'm sure they would appreciate your move! And besides, pretty much all fascist corporations have moved or are in the process of moving there. I'm sure the fascist corporations would love to employ you so you can then get paid to sling your vindictive hate for America and its government over there instead of over here!
Paying more in taxes!!!
http://www.truth-out.org/why-rich-corporations-and-wealthy-individuals-can-and-should-pay-more-taxes/1307543743
But, it will never happen!!!
Pretty damning study. Those dang liberal universities with their snooty intellectual book lernin' and their "studies" need to be replaced with jesus camps. Git er dun.
Honestly though, the real Republicans, the upper crusties with all the connections that control the conservative propaganda centers directly and indirectly know damn well that Reaganomoics doesn't work for the majority. It works out so well for them, however, that they have so much money that they can perpetuate their own system. It's powered by greed and nothing short of crashing the economy will fix it. They're going to live like pigs in the fat house until that happens -- gambling with the wealth of the nation and proclaiming divinity.
When you appoligize for the name calling, and respond in an intelligent manner, I'll give you some answers.
Thom, you may be remisunderestimatifying (apologies to George Bush...) the mental capabilities of republicans. Many of them really and truly are not smart enough to even understand what "crash the economy" means. They think that life is some sort of video game and that no matter what they do, there will never be any "real" consequences. And this is not a new phenomenon. Reagan's Secretary of the Interior James Watt actually told reporters that when we have finally cut down the last tree on this planet, Jesus Christ will return to rule the earth. I sort of agree with Watt, in that I think it possible that if we cut down all the trees on this planet, someone would come down to rule the earth. However, I disagree with him on who it will be. I rather doubt that it would be Jesus...
Yes, Thom, You guessed it right...................That exactly is their agenda.................... in the wake of getting Obama blamed, they will go to any extremes ................. the hatred, the racism and above all the greed is, what defines them.
If the minimum wage goes up, more people can afford to eat in restaurants. Business will improve. That will provide the money to hire the help for the added business. Most small businesses (like mine) are hurting badly right now because people who used to have money to spend don't anymore. If I had more money coming in, I could hire some help. Raising the minimum wage would boost everybodys business.
I wish to second the above.
Most Democrats try to sell their policies as what I call "Yes, but" liberals. They accept the Republican mantra that Republican pseudo-economics works, "but" we have to make "sacrifices" to make sure the less fortunate are taken care of.
As Obama doesn't get enough credit for saying, and doesn't say enough, we tried Republican "economics," and it didn't work. The policies that Republicans are dedicated to destroying led to unprecidented economic prosperity. Social Security isn't a sacrifice, it helps the whole economy, not just seniors, by making seniors part of the economy. Education. Intrasctructure. Public, universal health care. These are not costs. They are necessary to a healthy, prosperous country.
As to the minimum wage. One aspect is that if we raise the minimum wage, we take a major step towards solving the illegal immigration problem. Let's face it. The reason immigrants -- legal and illegal -- come to the U.S. is the same. Economic opportunities greater than in their home countries. Jobs. Illegal immigrants do jobs that, frankly, most American do not want to do. It is reasonable to say that if the wages for some of those jobs were higher, if the security, safety, and benefits were better, more of those jobs would be held by American citizens, and the opportunities illegal immigrants seek would be reduced. I'd like to test this idea; it is not something that can be settled in any way other than emperically. But it is one reason a higher minimum wage would lead to lower unemployment and greater economic health.
And I see very little chance of anyone making any of these arguments.
I do not care what the politicians from the duopoly want to do, we all know that their reelection trumps (excuse the pun) our needs as a nation. The bottom line in our current economic straights is that banks are not loaning money, even to those with good credit. Without that credit, our money supply is choked off and we'll stay in a decline.
Reply to garyej
The no fly list comment is the lame excuse some Republicans used to justify blocking a Democrat proposal to close the dangerous terrorist gun loophole Thom mentions in the blog. Don't ask me to explain right wing ill- logic, I was just being facetious! Yes, I'm not a fan of the no fly list! However I am a fan of nonviolence.
Is it my second amendment right to own a dirty bomb if I discharge it from a gun barrel, the NRA thinks so!
They are sitting on buckets of money, the golden eggs we lay. As i get on my knees and grovel to my boss for just 15% more pay. Kid needs school money, my water heater broke and my boss spits at me and says your just a joke.
Don't you get it man? I'll give you the can. I can hire another shmuck to make me another buck and you can just starve as I eat the yolks from the golden eggs you lay.
So here i sit and toil wonderin' where America went all the political pocket monkeys and my taxes they spent. Should have let the banks fail and put the banksters in jail. We are all getting so screwed and scarce is ethics in what they call truth as we still pay out the wazoo to the banks that put it to me and you!
Create jobs not war. We need to settle a different score. I want to know where all the money disappeared to. And see an America born anew!
Okay that was odd. Seriously though? Face it folks they don't care we are a society run amuck, no honor no ethic and the shills in DC are the biggest joke of all. The biggest tragedy is the number of people the media have so brainwashed....
The "Pres" needs to do some serious fire side chatting, like now! And talk soft but carry a big stick. 2012 is way to close for him to sit on his hands. We need to call out the obstructionists!
I don't think any type of logical argument will have any effect on a large portion of independent voters.
After the 2010 elections there were so many people confused as to how people could vote against their own interests by electing Republicans. Some TV reporters spoke to some of these voters. One very revealing interview with one such voter that really worries me was the voter who stated he voted Republican because the people that could provide jobs were Republican so if "we" give them what they want (i.e. power), then maybe they'll bring the jobs back. I'm very afraid that many low information and/or very desperate voters will have that belief or hope in their mind when they vote. They could also construe it that if the Republicans (the supposed job providers) will finally let the money flow if we just do what they say and vote out the despised Obama.
I'm an optimist, but I think this materialistic worldview of the American populace will get us in deeper trouble before we finally get the point that Jesus' teaching that "what we do to the least of us we do to Him [Jesus]" (a paraphrase) is a Spiritual Law, not just a quaint quote from the Bible. If we break it, we all suffer for breaking that Law, not just the poor.
-- By the way, I don't believe that God necessarily would "punish" us for breaking Spiritual Law, but rather we put ourselves in the predicament. If you break the law of gravity and jump off a cliff without a parachute, you will suffer the consequences. God does not inflict the punishment on you.
Another "by the way": I'm not a Christian so please don't simply dismiss my argument as another fanatical Christian trying to convert people.
Please consider: The response to The global Financial crash, every where, has been to literally "print or keyboard" money estimated to be in the hundreds of trillion of dollars, in order to "rescue" the big Banks and financial institutions, those responsible for creating the crash, however, the correct response should have been "bankruptcy" for the financial gigolos, and implementation of my long-time proposal for THE UNIVERSAL ECONOMY. The main purpose of THE UNIVERSAL ECONOMY, is to create "Social" capital in order to eliminate Poverty; as you read you will understand that the rich and powerful already have their version of THE UNIVERSAL ECONOMY but it only serves those who need it least."Please now read and judge for yourselves; whereas bailing out the financial and banking institutions is certain to create hyper-inflation, money "printed" and spent into the grass-roots of domestic economies will not.Please read it all.
All Nations of the world must take back their Sovereign rights that enable them to create their own supply of domestic, Interest free, Debt free, Social Capital and to create a State Bank, to create and issue all Democratically mandated "Social Capital" ; one American State (North Dakota) does this and is free of the financial woes depressing the rest.
This first step eliminates untold quanta of inflation and Government debt.
Every Sovereign independent Nation, or co-operating group of Nations, will then use this Social Capital to totally eliminate Poverty and deprivation in their communities by issuing to all that need it a Social Wage, structured to provide a basic break even living standard, a wage that will continue until death. This forms the basis, the bed-rock of a stable, consistent, trickle-up economy.
The Government will finance all conceivable Public Support and Infrastructures, Health, Housing, Education, etc.
The Social Capital so created will be the sole means of financing the Nations Money Supply, it adjusts automatically to population levels. This will become a "trickle Up" economy, replacing the nonsense of trickle down.
No Capital or subsidy will go to Private Enterprise directly, for if it did it would cause serious inflation.Capital issued and "spent" into circulation, as described above, would not create inflation.
There would be no interference with Private Enterprise. The Private Sector could employ those in receipt of the Social Wage by offering wages and hours of employment capable of inducing people to do the work offered; the wage so earned would supplement the Social Wage, not replace it. Thus inducing mutually agreed conditions at much lower wage costs to employers.Will this not help negate the export of jobs to China etc.?
Thus far no or very little taxpayer money has been expended. The burden of support for the poor and the provision of social and community infrastructure has been lifted from the backs of Corporate enterprise and the wealthy.
Control of Social provision has passed out of the hands of those not willing to vote for higher taxation to facilitate it. Working people are no longer at the total mercy of Market force gambling, that all too often deprive them of livelihood and take away hard won assets such as homes and pension funds. Working people can more easily change employment to escape unsatisfactory masters and conditions.
Price and cost inflation will be substantially reduced by ceasing tax collections from wage and salary earners, to include abolition of any sales taxes, G.S.T., and V.A.T.. Instead individuals will pay tax only once, and that when they are deceased, when the taxman will be empowered to asses deceased estates for tax liability. Avoidance will place the whole estate in danger of confiscation. Is there a better, or more equitable, system or time to pay tax, other than when we are dead?
Corporations and all other commercial enterprise will pay an annual flat rate tax levied against total net profits. Avoidance and imaginative minimisation schemes will not be allowed. Tax allowances will be strictly limited to running, operating,overheads and development expenditures.
Government will not subsidise free enterprise, this great engine, by it's own rules, must stand or fall on it's own merits.
The value of Sovereign currencies, exchange rates, for international purposes will be decided by co-operating Governments, taking into account the requirements and relativities embedded by consent in trade agreements, indicated by Supply and Demand and moderated to avoid damaging competitive pressures or disruption to home markets. Exchange rates will be fixed, stable, out of the influences of manipulators and traders.
There is much more to be said in explanation, however your own knowledge and experience will enable you to foresee the many attributes such a system delivers. My title for it is "THE UNIVERSAL ECONOMY" for it will work anywhere and for every person, fairly and equitably.
A very small "coterie" of Bankers and money power people is holding the world to ransom, they spend untold quanta of money spreading lies about the evils of Social Capital, for their own narrow purposes, populations around the world are in mortal danger, somehow the money power must be defeated.This defeat will come about when we elect independent politicians who will change our system from being representative to being participatory, and we return the Economy to one operating on "sound money", circulating in THE UNIVERSAL ECONOMY. This formula, most importantly,takes care of the constantly increasing costs due to population growth and other demographics.
Have you read this far? then you have my thanks, your commentary would also be most appreciated.
Regards, Thomas W. Adams.
Quite honestly, Thom, most Democrats don't understand the economy either. 17 states have their minimum wage set higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. All of them, with the exception of Michigan, seem to be doing fine.
I like to call that "trickle ON Reaganomics", because the "haves" just keep pissing on the "have nots"! And that's ALL they get!
Here are a couple of honest ways to fix the economy:
1. Take back the Federal Reserve as Congressman Kucinich would do with HR6550. This bill calls for us to take away the Federal Reserve from private bankers and, instead of Bankers lending our money at interest and making billions, we would create currency to be spent on vital infrastructure and provide full employment.
2. Read Walt Rybeck's excellent book: Re-Solving the Economic Puzzle. This book explains everything you need to know about how America started out on the right track but, then, was overwhelmed by corporate monopoly capitalism. Walt shows us how we can return to authentic capitalism that benefits small businesses, workers, and will create an ecologically sustainable prosperity. Walt's remedy is not pie-in-the-sky. He shows real world examples of how his remedy works.
I'm with you, Thom. I believe they are intentionally trying to crash the economy to make Obama a one-term-president. Of course, in the process, if they can make their corporate paymasters (or as I call them: The Dark Overlords) even richer and more powerful, all the better in their view. Their champaign donations go up that way.
As synical as that sounds, I also believe they are overplaying their hands and showing all of us their real colors. Have you heard their spokesperson, Ann Colter, justifying Kent State? Really? Murdering college students is now all right? They've losts their minds. They're obviously desperately fearful or losing power - because they are.
The "Powers that Be" are about to become the "Powers that Were." By the time the 2012 elections roll around the public will be more than anxious to throw the bums out!
Seems to me the two items you have chosen are not necessarily related. You are comparing apples and oranges.
For Example: If a independant restaurant owner / operator / chef must raise the minimum wage...it may prevent him/her from hiring much needed help....raising the prices of food and drink may result in slower sales...or an out of business sign in the window. Small business owners "trickle down" monies to thoughs who clean the restaurant .... cut the lawns .... repaint the walls , etc ( If they have the funds to do so )....
Most minimum wage jobs by large corporations like McDonalds ( staying with the food industry ) are starter jobs. Thoughs that work well and stay on earn higher wages by virtue of promotions....
Blanket statements like the one you offered are a bit misleading if one does not dig into the details.
The "Rolling Stone" article on Roger Ales is VERY enlighting.We all need to be aware of Rupert Murdock's success at losing initially w/Fox.Roger Ales has assembled a group of "lackies" to continuously say "untruths" over and over again;over the airwaves.As most Republician speakers follow this same practice,eventually the "low information" public accepts this propaganda as true.People talk about the loss of viewership at free T.V. but,it is still the most effective means to simple messaging.The quick sound bite; war on terrorism,hit them over there instead of over here,I'm from the government and I'm here to help,I don't remember,we know where they're at...
I looked up the verb "weinen" in my German dictionary, and contrary to what the caller said a couple days ago, it means "to cry", not "to whine" (although I'd bet it's the cognate of "whine"), which makes Anthony Weiner's last name the German version of "Cryer". This may be appropriate given how his confessional press conference went, but at least it doesn't translate as "Sheen".